On Friday at school we found this Chihuahua / Jack Russel mix running around downstairs:
There was some Keystone Cops style scrambling, but eventually I grabbed him up and took him to my classroom. At first he wigged, but after "Laura," one of my students, calmed him down and got a makeshift leash on him, he calmed down. He spent the rest of the day under my desk. Laura clearly wanted to take him home. She's a great dog owner, already has a bunch of them, and her mom said it was okay. She decided to call him Chico.
At lunch I went across the street and bought him a can of food, which he gobbled up with glee. I talked on the phone during my planning period, pacing around the room. He followed me on my march. Everywhere I walked, he walked.
He wasn't skinny, but he was filthy, and his nails hadn't been clipped in some time. He was obviously someone's pet at one time, but that looked like it was a while ago.
At the end of the day, I told two of my students they could take him for a quick walk downstairs before his new mom came to pick him up.
They came back without him. They said some kid called him and he ran to the kid, so they sent him home with his real human. Laura was upset. This morning she told me he would already have his shots by now. But I was glad that the dog was returned to his real home, although the circumstances of how he ended up at our school seemed a little weird.
Then, during second period, several of my freshmen said they saw some girl walk him to the stoplight by the school, take his leash off, and release him into the street. He ran away down an alley and disappeared. A few of them saw him around the area over the weekend.
I am so pissed off right now I can't even see straight. I don't understand why someone would do that. Why would you take a street dog away from a home and send him back to the street? What the fuck is wrong with people?
Laura is really upset and I really regret not taking him for a walk myself.
The only way I'll feel better is if we find this dog and get him back to Laura. I offered my kids a cash reward plus some extra credit if they find Chico, catch him and bring him back to me. We'll see. Some of them seemed pretty confident. They really want that $20.
I just don't get people sometimes.
I'm a fervent supporter of animals rights, but even if you ignore those issues, people don't even treat other human beings with adequate respect and consideration. Life itself doesn't get much respect.
ReplyDeleteWhich makes me like you even more for this post. Everyone and every thing could use a little more consideration. I really hope you find Chico.
Sending hopeful thoughts his way.
Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt's served as a good lesson to the kids about adopting dogs from shelters instead of puppy mills. This is an issue I feel passionately about. Most of the kids understand.
Is it possible that the girl gave a subtle command [ or signal ], for Chico to go home?
ReplyDeleteP.S.
Put Chico in a scene!
Emily: I am hereby adding $20 to the reward. I will Paypal it to you within 12 hours of you notifying me that 'Chico' has been returned.
ReplyDeleteFucking people. I'd like to find that person and show him that 'fist' doesn't have to be a noun.
Fucking people. You, on the other hand? A good egg. Tell your kids to find that dog!
-Jeff Pulice
Paul, definitely not. Kids have been seeing him around the neighborhood. I think it was just a nasty prank.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I appreciate that. One of my students sees him regularly but can't make him come to her. I'm hoping she wins his trust enough to grab him up soon.